Proverbs 25
1 These are also parables of Solomon, which the men of Ezechias king of Juda copied out.
These are more wise sayings of Solomon, copied out by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal the word, and the glory of kings to search out the speech.
It is the glory of God to keep a thing secret: but the glory of kings is to have it searched out.
3 The heaven above, and the earth beneath, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
The heaven is high and the earth is deep, and the hearts of kings may not be searched out.
4 Take away the rust from silver, and there shall come forth a most pure vessel:
Take away the waste from silver, and a vessel will come out for the silver-worker.
5 Take away wickedness from the face of the king, and his throne shall be established with justice.
Take away evil-doers from before the king, and the seat of his power will be made strong in righteousness.
6 Appear not glorious before the king, and stand not in the place of great men.
Do not take glory for yourself before the king, and do not put yourself in the place of the great:
7 For it is better that it should be said to thee: Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be humbled before the prince.
For it is better to have it said to you, Come up here; than for you to be put down in a lower place before the ruler.
8 The things which thy eyes have seen, utter not hastily in a quarrel: lest afterward thou mayst not be able to make amends, when thou hast dishonoured thy friend.
Do not be quick to go to law about what you have seen, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbour has put you to shame?
9 Treat thy cause with thy friend, and discover not the secret to a stranger:
Have a talk with your neighbour himself about your cause, but do not give away the secret of another:
10 Lest he insult over thee, when he hath heard it, and cease not to upbraid thee. Grace and friendship deliver a man: keep these for thyself, lest thou fall under reproach.
Or your hearer may say evil of you, and your shame will not be turned away.
11 To speak a word in due time, is like apples of gold on beds of silver.
A word at the right time is like apples of gold in a network of silver.
12 As an earring of gold and a bright pearl, so is he that reproveth the wise, and the obedient ear.
Like a nose-ring of gold and an ornament of the best gold, is a wise man who says sharp words to an ear ready to give attention.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to him that sent him, for he refresheth his soul.
As the cold of snow in the time of grain-cutting, so is a true servant to those who send him; for he gives new life to the soul of his master.
14 As clouds, and wind, when no rain followeth, so is the man that boasteth, and doth not fulfill his promises.
As clouds and wind without rain, so is one who takes credit for an offering he has not given.
15 By patience a prince shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.
A judge is moved by one who for a long time undergoes wrongs without protest, and by a soft tongue even bone is broken.
16 Thou hast found honey, eat what is sufficient for thee, lest being glutted therewith thou vomit it up.
If you have honey, take only as much as is enough for you; for fear that, being full of it, you may not be able to keep it down.
17 Withdraw thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, lest having his fill he hate thee.
Let not your foot be frequently in your neighbour's house, or he may get tired of you, and his feeling be turned to hate.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour, is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.
One who gives false witness against his neighbour is a hammer and a sword and a sharp arrow.
19 To trust to an unfaithful man in the time of trouble, is like a rotten tooth, and weary foot,
Putting one's faith in a false man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a shaking foot.
20 And one that looseth his garment in cold weather. As vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a very evil heart. As a moth doth by a garment, and a worm by the wood: so the sadness of a man consumeth the heart.
Like one who takes off clothing in cold weather and like acid on a wound, is he who makes melody to a sad heart.
21 If thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat: if he thirst, give him water to drink:
If your hater is in need of food, give him bread; and if he is in need of drink, give him water:
22 For thou shalt heap hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will reward thee.
For so you will put coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will give you your reward.
23 The north wind driveth away rain, as doth a sad countenance a backbiting tongue.
As the north wind gives birth to rain, so is an angry face caused by a tongue saying evil secretly.
24 It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman, and in a common house.
It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
25 As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good tidings from a far country.
As cold water to a tired soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 A just man falling down before the wicked, is as a fountain troubled with the foot, and a corrupted spring.
Like a troubled fountain and a dirty spring, is an upright man who has to give way before evil-doers.
27 As it is not good for a man to eat much honey, so he that is a searcher of majesty, shall be overwhelmed by glory.
It is not good to take much honey: so he who is not looking for honour will be honoured.
28 As a city that lieth open and is not compassed with walls, so is a man that cannot refrain his own spirit in speaking.
He whose spirit is uncontrolled is like an unwalled town which has been broken into.
